Armed Forces: Vacancies Dr. Fox To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current percentage shortfall is of each pinch point trade in the armed forces. Derek Twigg Details of percentage shortfalls for pinch point trades are provided in the following table. The figures are those reported for financial year 2007-08 quarter 3 returns. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Pinch points |Percentage shortfall| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Navy | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |RN Harrier GR7 Instructors |57 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Lt GR7 Harrier Pilots |51 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Merlin Observers |46 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Merlin Pilots |39 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Merlin Aircrew |22 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Able Bodied Warfare Specialist (Sensors Submariner) |26 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Able Bodied Warfare Specialist (Tactical Submariner |22 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Strategic Weapons Systems Junior Ranks |29 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Leading Hand Warfare |33 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Able Bodied Diver |35 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Marines Other Ranks |9 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Sea-King and Lynx Avionics Supervisors |18 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Petty Officer Mine Warfare |25 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Nuclear Watchkeepers |24 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Able Bodied Seaman |40 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Vehicle Mechanic 1 |20 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Recovery Mechanic |20 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Armourer |12 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Engineers Clerk of Works |15 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—General Surgeon |63 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Engineers Mechanical Engineer Fitter |20 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Logistics Corps Ammunition Technician |44 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Logistic Corps—Postal and Courier Operator |16 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps—Radiographer |43 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Engineers Military Engineer Geographic |36 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intelligence Operational Military Intelligence |26 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal |49 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Signals Information Systems Engineer |2 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Engineers Command, Control and Communications Systems |13 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—General Medical Practitioner |12 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Logistics Corps Chef |12 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps—Operation Department Practitioner |37 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Logistics Corps Petroleum Operator |42 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |AG Corps Staff and Personnel Service (Mil Admin) |14 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Royal Artillery—Operator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle |48 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—Nurse Officer |27 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—A and E Nurse Officer |30 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—Anaesthetist |62 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—Radiologist |80 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—Orthopaedic Surgeon |61 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Army Medical Service—Intensive Therapy Unit Nurse Officer |23 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |RAF | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Medical |29 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Operational Support (Intelligence) |3 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Operational Support (RAF Regiment) |17 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Operational Support (Provost/Security) |8 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Operational Support (Flight Ops) |8 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service |18 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Weapons Support (Air Load Master) |11 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Weapons Support (Linguist) |19 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Air Traffic Control/Flight Operations Manager/Flight Operations Assistant—Sergeant|10 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Firefighter |12 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Gunner |16 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Movements Operations/Controller |1 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |RAF Police |8 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Staff Nurse (RGN) A and E |14 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------